Wrapping machine



April 15, 1952 w. c. PALMER l-:T'AL

WRAPPING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 24, 1948 N lNvENToRsWILLIAM c. PALMER ARTHUR A. KOTTMANN BY mm ,L ha? ATTORNEYS April l5,1952 w. c. PALMER ETAL 2,592,725

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 24, 1948 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 15, 1952 W.C. PALMER ETAL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 24, 1948 l5 Sheets-Sheet 5mm. Qm.

GRV

H .JR L. l

. INVENTORS WILLIAM C. PALMER ww www? will N NOT,

ARTHUR A. KOTTMANN BY )L ,)Zbt Q7 ATTORNEYS W. C. PALMER ETAL Aprl 15,1952 WRAPPING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 24, 1948 INVENTORSWILLIAM C. PALMER ARTHUR A. KOTTMANN ATTORNEYS April 15, 1952 w. c.PALMER 'ETAL WRAPPING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 24, 1948April l5, 1952 w. c. PALMER ErAL WRAPPING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 6Filed Nov. 24, 1948 Fi E INVENTORS WILLIAM C. PALMER ARTHUR A KOTTMANNBY m4 f L 7 ATTORNEYS WRAPPING MACHINE 15 sheets-sheet 7 Filed Nov. 24,1948 h \N nvm. Q Sw/ @mw NQ 3M @NN EN QW. www/ RN Gm ILE E www m3 N Nmwww NMN www mk. I lMwMMM Mmmm". I www. NNN j NQN hh. Nhm. @QN www www 3NQN QN NQ* Q\` )mmm .J @h i/NNN E( www SN QN, mmm. MGM NAM Sm. QR. mwNwww 1 l In. l l l om. mmm. vwmww www NSN wm n Qn |||..|.U..H..H||H..H..HHM SN GN @mw GN Q Q ATTORNEYS April 15, 1952 w. c. PALMER ErAl,

WRAPPING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Nov. 24, 1948 ZZO N LA T mmmqmm.K mc ,rm EMA m mma m im WR AY B April 15, 1952 w. :.PA1.MER :s1-Ax.

WRAPPING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Nov. 24, 1948 n. lll

mvENToRs wlLuAM c. PALMER ,ARTHUR A. KOTTMANN f- 2% ATTORNEYS April 15,1952 w. c. PALMER ETAL WRAPPING MACHINE l5. Sheets-Sheet l0 Filed NOV.24, 1948 INVENTORS WILLIAM C. PALMER ARTHUR A.

KOTTMANN BY ATTORNEYS April l5, 1952 w. c. PALMER ETAL WRAPPING MACHINE15 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Nov. 24, 1948 w R. Sm. o m 4 J @Nm SN SN wwwIllll N WN my mm SAW Mw mCK fm EMA. m MMR M ILU L H T WR A Y Y B April15, 1952 w. c. PALMER ETAL.

WRAPPING MACHINE l3- Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Nov. 24, 1,948

IIIIIIIIIIIHVJ April 15, 1952 w. c. PALMER ETAL.

WRAPPING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 15 "Filed Nov. 24, 1948 Patented Apr.15, 1952 WRAPPING MACHINE Willianr C; Palmer and Arthur A. Kottmann,

Davenport, Iowa, assignors to The Bettendorf- Company, Bettendorf,`Iowa, a corporation oft Maryland Application November 24, 1948, SerialNo. 61,784

13 Claims.

This invention relates .to wrappingmachines and more particularly toimprovements in mechanisms for handling articles-in Wrapping machinesofthe type in Whic'hrrelatively soft deformable articles such asbreadloavesare to* be processed.

In machines of the character: contemplated herein l articles to '.be Awrapped are introduced one at a time into the mechanism andassociatedwith a web orfpiece of wrapping material that is draped 'over thearticleand'folded thereabout as thearticle isadvanced; Although articles arecustomarily fedintowrapping machines in a1 continuous succession,thewrappin'g of `each article is accomplished `bya seri'essofoperationsthat are performedone afteranother in a regular predetermined order.Since each article must undergo all of thesteps or operationa someeconomy of time iseiectedand thelwrappingcapacity of the machine `is`increasedfby arranging the `progression of the articlefthroughtheimechanisms' soA as to have a plurality of articles in process at thesame time. In other words; While one article is having the` wrappingmaterial :foldedtagainst the ends of` the article, a preceding articlemay be undergoing` an ,operation toseal the4 overlapped Wrapperportions, while a succeeding article. may be fhavingthe wrapping`material draped thereover` inreadiness for` the folding of` theWrapping.` materialv against` the article ends. Someof `the operationsperformed on articlesbe.- ing processed take 1 longer than` others,`even thoughthe operation `may consist merely in transporting .thearticle from one station or position to another.

the `time required to `perform thelongest-operation.

It is therefore one` of `the principal aims of the present invention toprovide a method `of and apparatus for handling articles in a Wrappingmachinein such manner as to `obtain a relativelyhigh speed operationwithout resorting to objec tionable -accelerations or excessive linear`speeds of movementfof 4the articles.` More specifically,

the inventionseeks to` improve the handling of` articles in wrappingmachines of `the type in which a t plurality of articles `aresimultaneously undergoing wrapping` operations. To this end the`horizontal and vertical,movements` of the` articles `are segregatedandare-periormedtalternately. That is to say, While articles are beingmoved vertically in the machine, all articles on horizontal portions `ofthearticle path through themachine are motionless and, while articles It`is:` apparent, however, that the` Wrapping'. rate` of the machine` is`limitedby` are moving horizontally, no vertical movement of articlestakes place;

As a furtherobject theinventionfcontemplates the improvement of thearticle handling method and apparatusto the end that the 'article'advancing mechanisms are so timed thatall'of `the instrumentalities formoving articles'over horizontal path portions are 'energized and operatesimultaneously, while" all instrumentalities` for` advancing articles.over vertical path portions operate simultaneously.` By this arrangementthe articles are advanced'through the mecha'- nisms step by step,`horizontal "movements alter hating with vertical movements.`

A further'object of the inventionrelates to the driving means forproviding thestep by `step movement ofthe articles and `aimsto providean intermittent drive in which each movement of an article `isinitiatedv gradually and `terminated gradually to avoid abrupt startsandstops. As

a preferred embodiment of this featureof theV invention there isprovided aV plurality of overrunning drives which are alternatelyenergized from-a common drive source so thatwhile the prime mover maysupply asubstantially uniorm how of power into `the machine suchpower`is utilized first by one set or group of art-icleadL vancing orhandlingmechanismsH and then `by another group.

rected to features by means of which a `machine is adjusted to Wraparticles having diierent sizes. The desirability of `reducing the numberof adjustments required in changing a wrapping` machineV from onearticle size to anotherhas previously been recognized. Machines havebeen made in which several sets of guides,` folders, Sealers and thelike` are coupled together for simultaneous actuation. The` machine ofthe present invention provides for adjustment over an unusually largesize range Without sacriiicing control over the articles being processedand While yet maintaining a high efficiency and superb wrapping quality.Adjustment to accommodate articles of different sizes is effectedthrough asingle master control which simultaneously and uniformlyadjusts all instrumentalities in unison. In -a `machine of the presentcharacter, in which two article lifting carriers or elevators areemployed, the provision vof a single master control for effecting`article size adjustment is particularly advantageous. control avoidsmiswraps and cripplesf which are almost certain to occur should there bea,

Afailure toadjust oneot .the article receiving in- A still furtherobject ofthe invention is di` Such single strumentalities when a sizechange is made in the remainder of the machine.

The size adjustment aspect of the present invention includes provisionfor altering the settings of the several instrumentalities of themachine while the apparatus is in continuous operation. This is anadvantageous feature because the wrapping machine need not be shut downfor change-over between different production runs and more eflicientoperation results. Furthermore the adjustment to different articlesizes, when made while the machine is in operation, enables the operatorto observe the effect of the size change on the character of wrapproduced. This is particularly useful in wrapping machines which handlearticles such as bread that, while nominally of the same size, maydiffer from day to day on account of diferent baking conditions,ingredients and other variable factors.

Additional objects of the invention relate to improvements in variousmechanisms and instrumentalities of the present type of Vwrappingmachine which will become apparent as the description proceeds. Suchimprovements are directed to the wrapping material feeding and cut-offmechanisms, the means for receiving and holding the severed wrappingmaterial, the mounting of the folding members of the folding and sealingchannel, and the general simplication of construction, arrangement ofparts, safety provisions, and economy of manufacture. description of theinvention is made in connection with the accompanying drawings forming apart of the specification and in which like parts throughout the severalviews are indicated by the same letters and numerals of reference.

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the front or operators side of thewrapping machine of the present invention, parts being omitted or brokenaway and fragments only of the infeed and discharge conveyors beingshown;

Fig. 2 is a verticalsectional view taken longitudinally through themachine with parts broken away and removed, this section being takenapproximately on the line indicated at 2 2 Fig. 3 is an elevationalviewof the rear side of the machine, parts being broken away and removed andthe machine being shown in slightly larger scale than in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the machine, parts beingbroken away and removed, this view being taken substantially on the lineindicated at 4--4 of Fig. 1 and enlarged with respect to that figure;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view through the machine, parts beingbroken away and removed, this view being taken substantially on the lineindicated at 5--5 of Fig. 1; Y

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view showing the upper or second carrierand the wrapping material support;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional View through the lower part of themachine, parts being broken away and removed, this view being takensubstantially on the line indicated at 'i--l of Fig. l;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged elevational detail, partly in section and withparts broken away and removed, showing one of the overrunning orintermittent drives for the article advancing mechanisms;

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Fig.8;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view, partly in sec- The tion and withparts broken away and removed, showing the mechanism for adjusting thelength of the wrapping material underlap and the tightness of thewrapping material about the article;

Fig. 11 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the line indicatedat I I-I i of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic elevational view from the operators side ofthe machine, showing the mechanism for controlling the operation of thedrive clutches and the drive for the wrapping material underlap control;

Fig. 12a is a fragmentary detail showing one end of the disconnectcontrol shaft and the index plate associated therewith;

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic elevational view from the front or operatorsside of the machine, showing the relationship between the respectivedrives for the conveyors, carriers, article pusher and wrapping materialfeed; and

Figs. 14 through 18 are vertical sectional views, diagrammatic in formand with parts broken away and removed, showing successive stages in themovement of an article through the machine and the relationship betweenthe various parts of the machine during successive phases of eachwrapping cycle.

An article such as a loaf of bread being processed by the wrappingmachine of the present invention moves in substantially the samevertical plane from the time it is received until it is discharged,there being no transverse or side feeding conveyors involved and nolateral movement or shifting of the article other than in the one planementioned. Such an arrangement is of particular advantage in largebakeries where it is desired to set up straight line production.Coupling of the wrapping machine to a slicing machine so that articlessuch as bread loaves are received in sliced condition directly from theslicer and immediately wrapped and sealed is facilitated by this type ofloaf travel.

General operation The relationship between the several mechanismscombined in the present machine and their interaction may be morereadily understood as the description proceeds if reference is firstmade to certain of the illustrations such as Fig. 2 and Figs. 12 and 13,which latter show several of the mechanisms and parts in diagrammaticform. Articles A are fed into the machine by an infeed conveyor B, whichmay be the outfeed or discharge conveyor of a slicing machine. Thearticles are advanced by the infeed conveyor onto a first or bottomcarrier or elevator C. The article is raised by the rst carrier C to anintermediate tansfer station or level, where a pusher D moves thearticle onto a second or upper carrier or elevator E, the two carriersbeing alined at the tansfer station. The second carrier E then raisesthe article to the level of a wrapping and sealing channel F into andthrough which the article is pushed by an overhead conveyor G. Wrapping`material is meanwhile advanced by feed mechanism H, received by acontrol carriage K and suspended so as to be engaged by and draped overan article as the latter is moved onto the upper Y Frame The mechanismsof the wrapper are supported by a pair of upright spaced frame members iand apart by movementY of the threaded shaft in the reverse direction.vAbove the shaft 44 the support members 46 are i'ltted with upright posts41 on which are received oscillatable holders 48 and end folding arms49. The end folding arms, supported cantilever fashion over the upper orarticle receiving platform 30 of the carrier, tapered dovetail nts inthe holders 4B, as indicated at 5U, so that the end folders may bereadily removed for replacement as when it is desired to change theirform or size in accordance with the requirements of the particular typeof article being wrapped.

The oscillating movement of the holders 48 on the posts 41 provides forswinging movement of the end folders 49 between an open or articlereceiving position, indicated by the broken lines of Fig. 6 and a closedor article holding position indicated by the full lines of that figure.Movement of the end folders between article receiving and articleholding positions is effected through the action of a roller or follower52 (Fig. 2) which rides in grooves 53 formed in a fixed roller guide 54(Fig. 6) bolted to the inside of the side frame 2 and a swingable rollertrack 5|. The follower 52 is mounted on the lower end of an arm 55,secured on one end of the cross shaft 44 which carries the supportcastings 45. Collars having upstanding arms 56 are mounted slidably onthe shaft 44 within recesses formed in the support members 4B formovement with the latter along the shaft. The collars are keyed on theshaft 44 so as to be rocked or oscillated thereby when the shaft isturned under the influence of the follower 52 in the grooves 53. Theupper ends of the arms 56 are in the form of spheres received betweensocketed ends of aligned adjusting screws carried in spaced lateralextensions 51 of the end folder holders 48. The extensions 51 aredirected outwardly or away from the respectivey end folders and straddlethe arms 55, so that the holders 48 are oscillated in unison by thesimultaneous movement of the upstanding arms 56.

The swingable roller track 5| (Fig. 2) is of channel shape and dependsfrom the lower end of the roller guide 54. A recessed cap screw 43pivotally connects the upper end of the swingable track 5| to the bottomof the guide 54 so that the roller receiving grooves 53 of the membersare in end to end relation and are continuous for all positions of theswingable track portion. The channel surfaces of the guide and track arealigned, thereby permitting the roller or follower 52 to ridelongitudinally in the guide channel and into and out of the swingabletrack portion 5|.

Lateral movement is imparted to the track portion 5| by an eccentric 58(Fig. 2) secured on and rotatable with the shaft 3|8 which operates thewrapping material feed mechanism. The eccentric 58 is disposed adjacentthe side frame 2 below a hollow guide bracket 59 secured to the insideof the side frame as by cap screws. A spring pressed follower, slidablevertically within a rectangular guideway in the. bracket 59, has on itslower end a roller which rides on the eccentricv 58 and imparts verticalreciprocation to an upright rod 14. This rod is pivotally connected tothe outer end of an arm 15 which is integral with and extends laterallyfrom the upper end of the roller track 5|. Downward movement of the rod14 swings the channel guide 5| to the right from the position shown inFig. 2. The limit of movement is determined by adjustable lock nuts 16on the rod 14 which engage the upper end of the guide bracket 59 as therod descends under the influence of gravity and aA the upper end of thebracket.

A stand off or shouldered cap screw 11 passes freely through anelongated arcuate slot 18 in the lower end of the roller track 5| and issecured in the machine side frame 2 so as to guide and limit themovement of the swingable track.

With the parts in the positions illustrated in Fig. 2 rotation of theshaft 3|8 through a half revolution swings the eccentric 58 downwardly,lowering the rod 14 and arm 15 so as to swing the track channel 5| tothe right substantially to the broken line position shown. The amount ordegree of swinging movement of the track is adjusted by the position oflock nuts 16 on the threaded portion of the rod 14. The greater theswinging movement of the track the greater is the swinging or spreadingapart of the end folders 49 during the subsequent movement of thecarrier E to the transfer station. This swinging or shifting of theroller track 5| occurs during the rotation of the feed rollers SI5 and3H which advances the wrapping material web W across the lower level ofthe carrier.

During the subsequent movement of the machine the shaft 3|8 isstationary and as the carrier E descends to the transfer station theroller 52 rides into the channel of the track 5|, the angularity of thelatter causing the arm 55 to be pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction(Fig. 2) so as to turn the carrier cross shaft 44. As the carrier movesto the transfer station, the end folders 49 are thus swung apart to thebroken line positions of Fig. 6 and are divergently positioned toreceive the article moved onto the carrier E from the carrier C by thepusher D during the Vsucceding movement of the machine. Such succeedingmovement occurs during the rotation of the shaft 3| 8 through half arevolution swinging the eccentric 58 to its upper position shown andswinging the track channel 5| back to the full line position. Thisswinging of the track channel is due to the .direct action of theeccentric 58 acting through the linkage described; the movement of thetrack is positive and the end folders 49 are positively moved togetherto complete the rst end folds of the wrapping material against thearticle ends, the carrier E still 'being at the transfer station.

Subsequently, during the next movement of the machine, carrier E israised to the discharge station, the end folders 49 being positivelyheld against the article ends by the confinement of the roller 52 withinthe track channels 53. In the present machine positive control of thearticle and wrapper is maintained, since the movement of the articleaway from the transfer station is not commenced until the first endfolds on the wrapping material are completed and the article ispositively gripped between the end folders.

Pusher The articles are shifted from the first carrier C to the secondcarrier E at the transfer station by the pusher D, which comprises aplurality of box-like elements 6|), 6| and 62 (Fig. 4) arranged in atelescopic sliding relation, the element 5i) being slidable within theelement 6|, and the latter being slidable within the element 62. Theelements 60 and B2 are securedon the ends of a pair of spaced parallelhorizontal slide bars 63 (Figs-1, 2,-and bars-d3y are .guided forlongitudinal sliding.;` .movement` in. hollowA guide housings 04. These.guide Vhousings are: mounted `on crossshafts and. B0, supported by.themachine frames Ifand 2.

The shaft is formed with oppositely threaded-endportions` that arethreaded through split` sleeves 68 ofthe guide housings. ABy this4arrangement rotation. of .the

`shaft 65 in onedirectiondraws.theguidehousings 1 64 toward .one.another in un-ison,` thereby moving theslidebars `3and.thepnsherelements toward oneanother while maintaining their parallelrelationship. Rotation of the. shaft .65 in `a reverse directionoperates `to `move the guide housings-84 apart in unison to .increasethe spacing` between the slide `bars 83` `and widen the pusher D. Thetelescoping sections-00,85

.and 82, sliding in `and out oi .oneanotheig` ac` gears 61 mesh withrack teeth.68 formed on the upper sides ofthe. slide bars 63. Rotationof the cross shaft 65 clockwise, as viewedin Fig. .2, advances the,pusher Dfto the left for moving an `article from `the iirstcarrier Conto the second carrierE, Retractionoi the pusher D is effected oyrotation 4of .the shaftlBG in a` counterclockwise directionpasvvill belater described.

'Folding and sealing channel The oldingand-sealing channel whichreceives articles raised tothe upper` level ofthe machine by thesecond1carrier 1E `comprises a. generally horizontal bottom member (Fig.2) which is supported on the cross members 8, 1 and 8 of the machine'frame and is heated conventionally by suitable` electric elements. wattheiupperl end of` the verticalppath ofarticles raisediby` the elevator.Bare" top .end folders 11|, which are-.supported in spacedparallelrelation to engagewrap- `ping material projecting. from ,the top` of; anarticle Vsuch `asyaloafroi bread; over:` the` ends `of the latttersandvto; fold such c-wrappingqrnaterial .downwardly `againstthe article ends.`When the carrierE `is at its upper: limit of movement 'the `top endio1ders1| are disposed onthe outside of `the end folders x49 soithattheir loweredges lie` ,closely adjacent the article supportingwsurface,fof theplatform 30.

A pair of frontend folders12 and apair. of combinedA bottom end` foldersand sealing. plates 13 form the sides of the folding andisealng channelFand may be heated inthe usual manner by suitable electrical elements. i

Discharge conveyor -Movementof articles oilD 'the second carrier E, intoand through the folding and sealing channel is effected by thedischargezconveyor G. This conveyor is mounted between supplementalframe members 80 and18| (FignD-which surmount the side frames and 2respectively. A pairof elongated` width controlling plates `and 83 arelocated in the Lspace `between the supplemental frame members andhavethreadedhubs 84 which are mounted on the oppositely threaded ends ofspaced parallel rotatable shafts journalled in the supplemental frames80 and 8|.

l'lhe .spacing plates 82- andf 83, which aretdisposed in spaced`parallelfvertical planes, havesub- 10 :581, and'semiecircularendedgesi. vTheseiedges of Vtl-legguide plates: are` freeand unobstructed.and fservelas tracks forgguidingthe individual pushers or flights o1the discharge conveyor. .Each flight o `:comprisesva cross`bar..orrod;90, pivotedaat.- its ends to:spaced.parallel side beltsorchains 9 I and M2, :which .are trained` around :sprockets .93 `on-gparallelshatts tand 95 journalled inthesllpple- .g-inentalfrarnes 00and 8|. Thesprocketsllpportio ing shaftswll .and 85, are gparallelfto:thethreaded lsfture of they plate rends.

gcifshape (Fig. 2) andslidingly,butnonfrotatively receive sleeves 980ipairs ot` supplemental pushers `-fl'one oneach sideofthe centralpusherSE. 'IThe sleeves .are veach i. formed with oircumierentialchannels or grooves that receive theedges ofthe -g-uide plates tzend-83.-As the ilightsaremoved bythe chains 9| and-92the supplemental pushers"89 .are retained in predetermined spaced-relation astthey move abouttheirorbitaLpaths bythe 1; straddling interengagement -of ythe sleeves`and-.the

:edgesoi the guideplates. .The endsoi the-supplernental pusher-e158,are` 'formed with enlarged .t articleengaging portions |0|` (Eleve).which .are f .directed towardone another; and which are bifurcatedutostraddle `the taperedl endsof thediamnnd .35 srshaped..artiele'zengagingportionf 91 1of the l central 4o frightangles to.thezipushers:96.fandr99. ,The arms 102. are received: and: guided inachannell'IM l l(Figs. L 2 .i and r .4) A; which is supportedv`cantilever `fashion on stubfrods: |05 ,bolteduthrough .thesupxplemental sdefraine` 8|. The guidechannelel04 .l extends` along,the'fstraight portion ofi.the lower run of the night bars and serves asa housing for 1.the sidechain92. The entering or left-hand end .(Fig. 2)of1` the zguidetchannel |04.` isiflaredzm; re- 4;ceive thearlns |02 ofthe flight bars asithechains .movethefa-iiights ontothe lower runiofsthecon- Veyor travel. 'lheilightsareythus heldiagainst turning; andswinging in `their `vertical :depend-ing position to positively push thearticles off` the-second carrier -Ewand intoand through. theifolding and`sealing channel F.

i As `the flights approach the sprockets; 93-on .theshat 85 `at theVrighthandend of the conveyor, as viewed in Figs.. l` and .2, :the'flightbar arms` |02 ride out of the guide-channel |04, so that `the flightsbecome-free swingingyand-,are lifted ,70 the guide plates 82 and-83.

Folde11 support =Thetop ,end folders. 1 the frontend folders 12, .andthe:ibottomzend folders 13 aramounted. on

w78 depending arms I|0 of swingable side gatesslll 7 (see Fig. 3). yVside of the sealing channel, are of lightweight cast metal and at theirends adjacent the discharge ber or bar IIS. E disposed horizontally inspaced parallel relation to one another below the lower run of the pathof thelight bars 90 (Fig. 4). support members H6 are bolted to eyemembers These gates located one on each end of the conveyor G are formedwith integral 'y tubular sleeves ||2 each of which is received on avertical spindle IIll supported in a depending bracket I I5 secured toan elongated support mem- The support members I I6 are At their ends theIII formed with internally threaded bosses re- Vceived on the oppositelythreaded ends of screw 7 vrods IIB journalled in the supplemental side iframes 80 and 8| adjacent the ends of the latter. Rotation of the screwrods IIB simultaneously in one direction shifts the support members ||6toward one another in unison to narrow or decrease uniformly the spacingbetween the folders carried thereby. Simultaneous reverse rotation ofthe screw rods moves the support members ||6 apart in unison to widen orincrease uniformly the spacing between the folders.

The side gates III are formed to underlie the support members I I6 andhave upwardly directed annular flange portions IIS which lie along thesides of the members II. Each of the gates III has a manually operablelocking latch |20,

Vengageable with detent means on one of the members I l1 associatedtherewith for locking the gate in closed position. Mounting of thefolders '|I,

'I2 and 'I3 on the swingable gates III, which can be quickly swungoutwardly and away from the path of the articles, facilitates inspectionand adjustment of the machine and permits quick access to any articlesthat may become misplaced or jammed in the mechanism. This feature isparticularly advantageous because the folders 'I2 and 13, customarilyheated to effect the sealing of the wrapping material, can, in the eventof an emergency, be swung quickly away from the ends ofA articles on thebottom member 'I0 of the discharge channel, thereby preventingoverheating or burning of the articles or the Wrapping material thereon.

The screw rods II8 which extend through and support the threaded eyemembers I I on the ends of the members IIB have sprockets |2| securedthereon adjacent the supplemental frame 8|. These sprockets are drivenin unison by an endless chain |22 (Fig. 3) which is also trained aroundsprockets |23 secured on the shafts 85 which mount the ywidth controlplates 82 and 83 of the discharge conveyor. are disposed under andsupport the lower run of the endless chain I 22, elevating the latterabove the level of the bottom run of the endless chains 9| and 92 thatcarry the night bars. The upper vrun of the endless chain |22 is carriedaround idler sprockets which elevate the chain above the shafts 35. Inthis manner the screw shafts 85 for adjusting the effective Width of theflight pushers 99 are operated synchronously and in unison with thescrew shafts II8, having the same thread leads, for adjusting the Widthof the side members II, 'I2 and 'I3 of the folding and sealing channel,the sprockets |2| and |23 being of the same size so that the respectivescrew shafts are operated in unison.

Actuation of the chain |22 is by means of an endless chain |25 whichdrives a sprocket |26 secured on one of the shafts IIS (Figs. 2, 3 and4). The actuation of the chain |25 is described later. s Y Y Thesprockets |23 Extending in the direction of article movement `ascontinuations of the bottom end folder I3 are side guide members |30 ofthe folding and sealing channel. These members are supported by thedepending brackets ||5 which carry the pivot pins I |4 and are movabletoward and away from one another simultaneously with the other sidemembers of the folding and sealing channel in adjusting the latter toarticles of a different size. The side members |30 may be electricallyheated to heat-seal the Wrapping material or they may be refrigerated tochill overlapped and folded portions of the wrapping material.

Articles pushed through the folding and sealing channel by the pushers96 and 99 are received on an outfeed or cooling conveyor which retainsthe overlapped and folded wrapping material in position about thewrapped articles for a suflicient period of time to permit setting ofthe heated seals and which also serves to conduct the articles onto awork platform for further handling. 'I'he outfeed conveyor is ofconventional construction and comprises a driven endless bottom belt |40and spaced side belts, one of which is indicated at |4|. The endlessbelts of the outfeed cooling conveyor are trained around spaced,rotatable members or cylinders, one of the rotatable members for thebottom belt being indicated at |42 and the shaft therefor at |43. Eachof the side belts is also supported on spaced rotatable members, one ofthe rotatable members for the side belt I 4| being indicated at I 44.This rotatable member is carried on a vertical spindle |45 mounted on acasting or bracket that can be laterally adjusted. A similar arrangementon the other side of the conveyor permits variation of the width betweenthe inner runs of the side belts.

Mastef` control for Zoa'jc size adjustment Wrapping machines arecustomarily designed to provide for adjustment of the space between sideguides, end folders and the side members of the folding channel, so thatarticles of different sizes can be processed. In so adjusting a Wrappingmachine itis desirable that all of the several mechanisms or parts thatare critical or must be altered as to spacing and which customarilyengage the ends of an article being processed, be simultaneously anduniformly altered in setting to correspond to the changed dimensionalrequirements. Machines have been proposed in which several but not allof the size changing instrumentalities are coupled together so as to beactuated in unison, thereby reducing the number of separate operationsthat have to be performed in adjusting the machine to process articlesof different sizes. However, should any one of the several adjustmentsrequired in a, conventional machine to change its setting to accommodatearticles of different size be omitted, subsequent operation would be aptto cause a succession of misruns or cripples among the articles beingprocessed.

In the present machine adjustment of all of the various mechanisms andparts to different size settings has been consolidated into a singlemaster adjustment control which governs or monitors the adjustment ofall of the parts or mechanisms that need to be altered when the machineis adjusted to change the size setting.

All adjustments for article size stem from and are governed by arotatable master size control shaft, which is the shaft 65 previouslymentioned in connection with` the pusherD. This shaft is horizontallydisposed and journalled in the side frames and 2 of the machine. On theoperators side of the machine integral extensions of the frame I form abox or housing |5I (Fig. 5) about the journal for the shaft 65. A gear|52 secured on the shaft 65 within the housing |5I meshes with a smallergear |53 secured on a stub shaft |54 journalled in an enlarged bosscarried by cover |55 of the housing |5I. The stub shaft |54 may berotated by a crank |56 to effect the adjustment desired. The operatorthus is able to turn the shaft 65 by means of the hand crank |56 atconsiderable mechanical advantage.

The master size control shaft, as previously mentioned, has oppositelythreaded ends which are recived in threaded openings formed in the splitsleeve portions 69 of the slide bar housings 64. Thus, rotation of themaster shaft 65 results in altering the effective Width of the pusher Dso that the same can be received between the side plates 2| on thecarrier C in moving an article from one carrier to the other at thetransfer station. The limits of movement of the telescoping pusherelements 60, 6I and 62 are determined by shoulders |58 formed on stopcollars |51 secured on the master shaft 65 at opposite ends of one ofthe threaded portions. These stop shoulders are engageable with matingshoulders |59 formed on one of the split sleeves 68 to arrest rotationof the shaft through the sleeve at the desired limits of movement of thesleeve along the threaded portion of the shaft.

On the outside of the side frame 2 a sprocket |60 is secured on the endof the master adjustment shaft 65 and actuates an endless chain I6I(Fig. 3) which has vertical runs and is trained around and drives asprocket secured on a shaft I 63 journalled in the rear side frame 2 ofthe machine below the level of the infeed conveyor B. Another sprocketon the shaft |63 has an endless chain belt |64 (Figs. 2 and 5) trainedtherearcund, this chain actuating a sprocket |65 secured on cross shaft26, previously mentioned in connection with the size adjustment of thefirst carrier C. Thus the adjusting shaft 26 which controls the Width ofthe first carrier C is rotated in unison with the master adjustmentcontrol shaft 65 by the endless chain belts and sprocketsinterconnecting the two shafts.

An endless chain belt |66 (Fig. 2) is trained around a sprocket |62secured on the cross shaft 26 to be rotated thereby and also about asprocket on a gear |61 which is rotatably mounted on a stub shaft |68carried by bracket |69 secured to the inside of the side frame 2. Avertical bar is journalled at its upper end in a horizontal portion Ill(Fig. Ll) of one ofthe side plates 32, previously mentioned inconnection with the second carrier E. A collar |12 and a bevel gear |13secured on the shaft on opposite sides of the journal in the horizontalportion I1I of the side plate restrain the rod against axial movement inthe journal. The gear |13 meshes with bevel gear |14 secured on one endof the threaded adjusting shaft d5 previously mentioned in connectionwith the second carrier E. The lower end of the rod |10 is non-circularor square in section and has a sliding t in a mating sleeve |15,rotatably mounted in split collar |16 of the bracket |69. The rod |10,While freely slidable up and down in the sleeve as the carrier El movesup and down, rotates therewith by reason of the non-circular or squarecross section of the parts. On the lower end of the sleeve I 15 is abevel gear Ill which meshes with and is driven by the bevel gear |61.Thus the rotation of the master control adjusting shaft 65 is impartedthrough chains I6|, |64 and |65 and the sprockets and shafts carryingthe same to the vertical rod |10 which actuates the threaded adjustingshaft 45 in the second or upper carrier E synchronously and in unisonwith the master control adjusting shaft.

Also actuated by the master control adjustment shaft 05 is an endlesschain belt |80 (Figs. 3 and 5) which is trained around a sprocket |8|secured on the threaded master control shaft 05 inside the side frame 2and a sprocket |82 secured on a shaft |83 supported in journals |84 onthe ends of the machine side frames and 2 (Fig. 5). Also secured on theshaft |83 is a sprocket |86 around which is trained the endless chainbelt |25 previously mentioned and which actuates the threaded adjustingshaft II8 at the righthand end of the machine as viewed from theoperators side, see Fig. 2. Thus through the endless chain belts and |25and the sprockets and shafts supporting the same, the adjusting shaftsB5 and IIB of the discharge conveyor G are actuated synchronously and inunison with the master control adjusting shaft 651, so that the pushersof the discharge conveyor and the side members of the folding andsealing channel are simultaneously and synchronously adjusted in uniformrelation to one another and to the adjustment of the pusher D and thecarriers C and E.

Drive mechanism In the present Wrapping machine there areinstrumentalities (the infeed conveyor B, the pusher D and the dischargeconveyor G) which operate to advance or move articles being processedover generally horizontal paths. Other instrumentalities (the firstcarrier C and the second carrier E) operate to advance the articles overIgenerally vertical paths. The step by step progression of articlesthrough the present machine is obtained .by an intermittently actingdrive for the instrumentalities which act in concert to forward oradvance the articles. Synchronization of the various instrumentalitiesis essential and is obtained by the use of a common or single main driveshaft 200 journalled in bosses formed in the frames I and 2 and drivenby an electric motor 20| (Fig. 1). The motor shaft has a springcontrolled split pulley 252 keyed thereon, this pulley driving a belt203 trained around a pulley 204 secured on a shaft 205 supported at oneend in a journal 206 mounted on the base 4. The motor is slidable on VWays under the control of a threaded rod and cross-head arrangementactuated by a hand crank 2I3. A variable speed drive is thus provided.The shaft 205 extends longitudinally through the machine adjacent theframe I and at its other end is journalled in a depending portion 208 ofa housing 201 which surrounds a portion of the main shaft 200. A wormsecured on the shaft 205 within the housing portion 208 meshes with anddrives a Worm gear 209 secured on a sleeve 2I9 which is free running onthe main shaft 200 and which is fitted with ball bearings journaling thesleeve within the housing. Lubricant is maintained in the housing 201.

The main shaft 200 extends through the sleeve ZIB and the frame I on theoperators side of the machine and has a three-armed crank securedthereon. A pawl 2II is pivotally mounted at 2 I2 on the end of radialarm 2|0 of the crank. This paWl is engageable with a radial shoulder ona

